Wrist watch band



Dec. 29, 1936- c. J. HEILEMAN I WRIST WATCH BAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan 4, 1935 INVENTOR C'l-IA RL ES J HE/L EMA/Y WWRW ATTORNEYS Dec. 29, 1936. c. J. HEILEMAN WRIST-WATCH BAND Filed Jan. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 67mm 5" d Mme-Mm ATTORNEYJZ Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wrist watch bands and particularly to metal bands and the connecting clasp therefor.

An object of the invention is the provision of a continuous band or strap for wrist watches and the like that can be opened to permit ready insertion of the band over the fist or hand of the wearer.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a metal wrist watch band having a positively locking clasp with a portion adapted to telescope in order to adjust the size of the band as a whole and in which no interference is ofiered to the telescoping portion.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wrist watch band or strap as above described which is simple of construction, readily adjustable to various sizes of wrists, will not pinch or scratch the skin during adjustment, and may be positively locked in adjusted position against inadvertent release thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details as shown and described without exceeding or departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a watch or timepiece with a wrist band attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the improved clasp associated with the wrist band;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the improved clasp as seen substantially from line 44 on Fig. 3 showing, however, the clasp in unlocked or released position;

Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive illustrate respectively, in perspective, the several elements utilized in the improved clasp;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but taken at right angles thereto and looking toward the clamping lug;

tive the several elements utilized in a modifica- Figs. 11 to 14 inclusive illustrate in perspec-.

improved clasp in a fully extended or open position; and

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view as seen from line 11-41 on Fig. 15.

Throughout the several views of the drawings 5 similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

In wrist watch bands or straps as heretofore employed the clasps utilized for uniting the ends of the bands were more or less merely 10 frictionally held or if positively held frequently were of the completely separable type such as disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,854,257, issued April 19, 1932. With this type of band there was always danger, when the ends were released, 5 of the watch dropping from the wrist of the wearer. Again, with this type of band interference was set up by the locking piece to the insertion or telescoping of the ends relative to one another. With the band of the present 20 construction all of these objectionable features have been eliminated as will be appreciated from the following description.

The watch l5 has its opposite ends provided with spaced lugs, such as I6 and IT, to which 25 are respectively pivotally secured, band or strap sections l8 and IS. The other ends of the band or strap sections it and I!) are connected to a clasp indicated in general in Fig. 2 by the reference numeral 20. 30

The improved clasp 20 comprises upper housing 2| of substantially U shape in cross-section and has projecting from its one end lugs 22 to which the band section I8 is pivotally connected. The sides of the housing 2| are cut 35 away as at 23 to receive the trunnions 24 and 25 of the locking buckle 26. The buckle 26 has projecting therefrom between the trunnions 24 and 25 the locking cam 21. In order to provide room for the cam 21 the housing 2| is provided on its upper face with a raised portion 28 thereby providing the space 29, see Fig. 4. 1

Received within the housing 2! is a secon housing 35 held within the first housing by forming flanges 32 at the base of the sides of 45 the housing 2| which underlie the bottom of the second housing 30. The bottom 32 of the second housing 30 is crimped to provide teeth 33 having spaces between each adjacent pair thereof. Rising from the said bottom 32 of the housing 30 are the sides 34 and 35 the upper edges of which engage the buckle trunnions 24 and 25 for holding said buckle in position for rotation or oscillation about the axis of the said trunnions. Each of the sides 34 and 35 is at the corners thereof provided with recesses 36 while at one end of the said housing sides there are provided lugs 31 and 38 forming between them and the upper surface of the bottom 32 a passage 39.

Mounted in the recesses 36 of the housing sides 34 and 35 are lugs 40 projecting laterally from opposite ends of a leaf spring member 4|. As seen in Fig. 4, the leaf spring 4| engages the undersurface of the top of the main clasp housing 2| and forms between its upper surface and the raised portion 28 of said housing 2| the space 29 in which the locking cam 21 is disposed when the clasp is loose or released. It will also be noted that this leaf spring 4| forms between its undersurface and the upper surface of the bottom 32 of the housing 30 a compartment or box 42 substantially free of anyinterfering parts. It is into this compartment or box 42 that the telescoping portion of the band is inserted.

This telescoping portion of the band is shown in Fig. 6 and comprises three plates or leaves 43, 44 and 45. The leaves 43 and 44 are hingedly connected to one another at 46 while the leaves 44 and 45 are hingedly connected at 41 and from Fig. 4 it will be seen that these leaves will substantially lie one upon the other when in operative position. The leaf 43 is adapted to be inserted within the way 39 formed between the undersurface of the lugs 31 and 38 and the upper surface of the bottom 32. 7 After the said leaf is inserted in this way the extreme or free end thereof is upset or bent upon itself to provide a lug or shoulder 48 adapted to engage the lugs 31 and 38 and prevent disassociat'ion of the housing 39 from the leaf 43. The leaf 43 is further provided with one or more indentations such as 49 which is adapted to be forced into the space between the teeth or corrugations 33 formed in the bottom '32 of the housing 36. Thefree end of the leaf 45 is adapted to be turned on itself to form an eye such as 59 for providing a hinge connection with the strap section l9. e

The operation 'of this wrist watch strap or band and the improved clasp is believed evident. However, it is, briefly, as follows. The

leaves 43, 44 and 45 are placed one uponthe other, as shown in Fig. 4, outside,'of course.

in Fig. 4. These parts are then inserted as a unit within the compartment 42 until the band as a whole is comfortably tight on the wrist or arm of the wearer. This position would place the lug 49 somewhere between the extreme ends of the corrugations'or teeth 33 in the housing 30. The buckle 26 would then be actuated from the full-line position to the dotted-line position inFig. 4 thereby. causing the clamping lug 21 to flex or bend downwardly the'leaf spring 4| and the plates or leaves 43, 44 and 45 for forcing the lug 49 into a space between two of the teeth 33. This would then securely lock the parts in position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

When it is desired to remove the watch from the wrist or arm of the wearer or change its adjustment it is necessary to first raise the buckle 26 from the dotted-line position to the full-line position whereupon the inherent spring in the plates 43, 44 and 45, and the leaf spring 4| will return'saidparts to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, and withdraw the lug 'spective in Fig. 12.

or lugs 49 from the space or spaces occupied be tween the teeth 33. The parts may then be readily adjusted relative to one another.

It should be noted at this time that the leaf spring 4| when in the free position acts on the cam lug 21 for holding the buckle 26 in its raised or released position. By this construction a wrist watch band may be readily adjusted, placed on or removed from the wrist or arm of the wearer with great facility and need not require the wearer to hold the watch between the outer portion of the wrist and some other part of his person during the adjustment of the band itself. This locking mechanism comprises a lug orfi'n'ger 5| pivotally mounted at 52 to the upper surface of the housing 2|. The lug or finger 5| is adapted to overlie the cross bar 53 of the buckle 26and normally rest in a V-shaped notch or groove 54 formed in the upper surface of said bar 53.

In the modified clasp shown in Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive, additional means are provided whereby the buckle, clasp and attached band sections may be extended to permit the passing of the same over a large fist and be adjusted to the usual position around the wrist which is proportionately smaller than the usual wrist as compared with the average size fist.

This modified construction comprises the same upper or outer housing 2| and underlying leaf spring 4| which are employed with the buckle 26 except that the band-attaching lugs 22 are omitted. Disposed within the upper housing 2| is the lower or second housing 55 which, in the main, is similar to the lower or second housing 30. The housing 55 has its bottom 56 provided with a rectangular opening 51 thereby providing runways 58 and 59 adjacent the vertical walls thereof. By comparison of Figs. 5 and 13 it will be noted that in Fig. 13 the corrugations or teeth 33 of Fig. 5 are replaced by the rectangular opening 51. The housing 55, however, has the opposite ends of its vertical walls undercut as at 36 for the lugs 40 of the leaf spring 4|.

Disposed below the base '56 of the housing 55 is a closure plate 60 having its central portion depressed as at T0 and provided with flanges adjacent thereto. The plate 69 is held in position by crimping the extreme lower edges of the upper housing side walls onto the flanges TI and thereby securing the various elements to one another in the final assembly. This crimping provides flanges which are similar to the flanges 3| of Fig. 8, but instead of engaging the lower surface of the housing 30 they engage the lower surface of the plate 6 0.

e The plate 60 between its upper surface and the under surface of the housing 55 provides a passageway or channel 6| in which is' dis posed aslidingplateor leaf 62 shown in per- This plate or'leaf '62 is provided throughout the major part of its central portion with corrugations or crimping 63 thereby providing teeth with spaces between each adjacent pair. The'outer end of the leaf or plate 62 is turned on itself to provide an eye 64 for the usual pin post and whereby the band section 8 is connected to the claspinstead of;

by means of the lugs 2270f Fig. 3. To limit the movement of the plate or leaf 62 relative to the clasp it is provided near its other end with a pair of lugs 55 adapted to be disposed in the rectangular opening 51 of the housing 55 and alternately engageable with the endwalls provided adjacent the eye 64 with a lug 65 adapted to enter a depression 67 formed in the lower housing 55.

Disposed for telescoping movement relative to the clasp, as was described above, are the hinged leaves 43, 44 and 45 which are substantially identical in each form of construction except that the lower plate or leaf 43 instead of being provided with one or two indentations 49 is provided with a series of them extending for a considerable portion of the central part of said leaf or plate as shown at 68 in Fig. 14.

It should be noted that the corrugations 58 of the plate or leaf 43 when in a closed position overlie the opening 51 in the housing 55 while the corrugations or teeth 63 of the plate or leaf 52 project into said opening in the housing 55. when in the closed position, as illustrated in Fig.

15, are disposed one above the other with the runways 58 and 59 of the housing 55 therebetween and which runways in reality support the leaf or plate 43.

The operation of the modified construction is substantially the same as the operation of the form illustrated in Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive. In the modified construction, however, the band as a whole may be extended beyond that allowed by the leaves 43, 44 and 45 by extending the leaf or plate 62. Furthermore, the adjustment of the band around the wearer's wrist may be varied by more or less inserting the plate 62 within the clasp housing. With this construction the buckle 25 through its cam 21 locks all of the parts including the plate 62 in their adjusted position by causing the leaves 43, 44 and 45-to be deflected and force the teeth in the leaf 43 through the opening 51 in the housing 55 into engagement with the teeth or corrugations 63 of the plate 62 against the lower plate 60 of the housing as a whole.

In each modification the lug or finger 5| overlies the buckle bar 53 to prevent the inadvertent opening of said buckle as described in detail above.

From the foregoing it will now be evident that there has been provided an improved wrist watch band or strap including an adjustable clasp which will positively lock the sections of the strap in adjusted positions and which look is further secured against inadvertent release, thereby insuring the wrist watch band remaining indefinitely in its several positions of adjustment.

I claim:

1. A clasp for use with wrist watch bands and the like comprising a pair of superimposed channel-shaped members forming a housing, a member adapted to telescope within said housing, a locking cam carried by the housing and actuatable relative thereto for engaging the telescoping member, means for holding said locking cam From this it follows that these leaves in inoperative positionto permit the telescoping of the member and housing, and means associated with the cam for actuating same against the last-named means for engaging the telescoping member and impinging same within the housing. 7 i

2. In a clasp of the class described the combination of an upper housing having a top and depending sides, an inner housing having a bottom and upstanding sides, said housings being adapted to be secured to one another to provide a rectangular box, a member adapted to telescope within said box, means for limiting the movement of the member relative to the box to prevent di'sassociation thereof, a locking cam associated with the box for impinging on the telescoping member, and means for holding the locking cam in inoperative position upon release thereof whereby an unobstructed passage is afforded for the telescoping member.

3. In a clasp of the class described the combination of an upper housing having a top and depending sides, an inner housing having a bottom and upstanding sides, said housings being adapted to be secured to one another to provide a rectangular box, a member adapted to telescope within said box, means for limiting the movement of the member relative to the box to prevent disassociation thereof, a locking cam associated with the box for impinging on the telescoping member, and means for holding the locking cam in inoperative position upon release thereof whereby an unobstructed passage is afforded for the telescoping member said lastramed means comprising a leaf spring disposed beneath the top of the upper housing and forming a compartment for the locking cam.

a. In a clasp of the class described the combination of an upper housing having a top and depending sides, an. inner housing having a bot tom and upstanding sides, said housings being adapted to be secured to one another to provide a rectangular box, a member adapted to telesoope within said box, means for limiting the movement of the member relative to the box to prevent disassociation thereof, a locking cam as sociated with the box for impinging on the telescoping member, means for holding the locking cam in inoperative position upon release thereof whereby an unobstructed passage is afforded for the telescoping member, and a second telescoping member slidable relative to the housings, and adapted to be impinged by the locking cam upon impingement of the first telescoping member.

5. In a clasp of the class described the combination of a box-like housing, a partition extending lengthwise of said housing to provide a pair of passages therein, a telescoping member in each of said passages for sliding movement relative thereto, each of said members being provided with corrugations forming engaging or locking teeth, and means carried by the housing for impinging the telescoping members on one another and on the housing.

6. In a clasp of the class described the combination of a box-like housing, a partition extending lengthwise of said housing to provide a pair of passages therein, a telescoping member in each of said passages for sliding movement relative thereto, each of said members being provided Wits corrugations forming engaging or looking teeth, means carried by the housing for impinging the telescoping members on one another and on the housing comprising an oscillatable cam, and means for oscillating said cam from a free --'u'nlocking position to a looking or impinging posi- -tion,*andmeans' for'holding saidcarn in its free unlocking position and providing an unobstructed passage for the telescoping member.

8. In a clasp of the class described the combination of a rectangular box-like housing having an opening therein, a plurality of foldable leaves adapted to be telescoped within said housing,

said housing'having one wall thereof'corrugated to provide a seriesof teeth,'o-ne of said foldable leaves 1 having a lug for engagement with said teeth, and an oscillatable cam oscillatably supported by the housing and adapted to impinge on said foldable leaves for forcing the lug thereon into operative engagement with the housing teeth and thereby secure said parts in adjustable positions.

9. In a clasp of the class described the combination of a box-like housing having a passage therethrough, a telescoping member adapted to be shifted axially of the housing passage, a leaf spring within said housing and defining one wall-of the housing passagaand an oscillatable cam carried by said housing and disposed above the leaf spring which holds the looking cam in an inoperative position but yieldable to permit the locking cam to impinge on the telescoping member and lock same within the housing opening.

10. In a clasp of the class described the combination of a box-like housing having a passage therethrough, a, telescoping member adapted to be shifted axially of the housing passage, a leaf spring within said housing and defining one "wall of the-housing passage, an oscillatable cam carried by said housing and disposed above the leaf spring which holds the locking cam in an inoperative position but yieldable to permit the locking cam to impinge on the telescoping member and lock same within the housing opening, and means for holding the cam in a locking impinging position.

l1.'In a clasp of the class described the combination of a box-like housing having a passage therethrough, a telescoping member adapted to be shifted axially of the housing passage, a

leaf spring within said housing and defining one wallof the housing passage, an oscillatable cam carried by said housing-and disposed above the leaf spring 'which holds the locking cam in an inoperative position 'but yieldable to permit the locking cam to impinge on the telescoping member and lock same within the housing opening, and means for holding the 'cam in a locking impinging position comprising a pivotally mounted arm onthe housing adapted to overlie a cam actuating means carried by the cam.

=12. In a claspof the class described the combin'ation with a rectangular box-like housing, of

a pair of telescoping members within said housing and movable longitudinally thereof in opposite directions, cooperating interengaging teeth formed on said members, and means carried by said housing for impinging on said'members to cause an interlocking engagement between their respective teeth, whereby said 'members may be locked in adjusted positions relative to one another and the housing.

'13. ln a'clasp of the class described the combination with 'a rectangular box-like housing,

of a pair of -telescoping members within said housing and movable longitudinally thereof in opposite directions, cooperating interengaging teeth formed on said'members, and means carried by said housing for impinging on said members to cause an interlocking engagement betweentheir 'respective teeth,'whereby said members may be locked in adjusted positions relative to one another and the housing, said locking 'means comprising an elongated cam oscillatably carried by the housing interiorly thereof and adapted to flex one of said members into engagementwith the other, andmeans exteriorly of the housing'for actuating the cam to its looking position.

l4. ln'a claspof the class described the combinationwith a rectangular box-like housing, of

a pair of telescoping members within said housing and movablelongitudinally thereof in oppo- 'site'directions, cooperating interengaging teeth formed onsaid'members, and means carried by said housing for impinging on said members to cause an interlockingengagement between their respective teeth,"whereby said members may be locked-in adjusted'positions relative to one another and the housing,"said locking means com-.

prising an elongated'cam oscillatably carriedby the housinginteriorly thereof and adapted to flex one of said members into engagement with the other, means exteriorly of the housing for 1 actuating the cam to its locking position, and

means carried by' the housing 'exteriorly thereof for engaging the cam'actuating means to hold same in a locking position.

' CHARLES J. HEILEMAN. 

